| “ | I don't fight alone, and I never will. | „ |
| ~ Harry to Delphini after he and his friends defeated her |
Harry James Potter is the titular main protagonist of the Harry Potter franchise by JK Rowling.
Being one of the most powerful wizards of his generation, Harry was prophesied to defeat, the self-proclaimed dark lord Voldemort, along with the support of his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. After defeating Voldemort, he married his true love, Ginny Weasley and had three children, James, Albus, and Lily
In the film adaptations, Harry is portrayed by Daniel Radcliff, with his younger selves portrayed by the Saunders triplets and Topy Papworth in the eighth film of the series. In the play, The Cursed Child, he is portrayed by Jaime Parker.
Background
Before Harry's birth, a prophecy was made by Sybill Trelawney, stating that a boy born at the end of July would bring about the end of Lord Voldemort and end his reign of tyranny. This prophecy refers to the unborn son of Lily Evans and James Potter. This motivates Dumbledore to have the Potters move into a cottage in his old hometown, Godric's Hollow.
Born on July 31, 1980, Harry Potter was the only child and son of Lily Evans and James Potter. After being born, Sirius Black was made Harry's godfather. When Harry was a year old, his parents were killed by the Dark Wizard, Lord Voldemort. During this, his mother sacrificed herself between Voldemort and her toddler son. He was also an accidental Horcrux.
Harry was rescued by Rubeus Hagrid before people began swarming the house in Godric's Hollow. Sirius once attempted to take baby Harry, as guardianship would be passed down to his godfather. However, Hagrid refused because Harry was supposed to go to his maternal family. Reluctantly, Sirius gave Hagrid his flying motorcycle for them to travel faster. An orphan, Harry was left on the doorstep of the Dursleys by Albus Dumbledore, who knew Harry had to live with Petunia, the only living blood relative of Lily's for her sacrificial protection to live on with Harry's aunt. He was emotionally abused by his aunt's family and neglected by the Dursleys.
Concept and Creation
When creating Harry, JK Rowling had the idea of the Harry Potter books and his character when she was waiting for a train to come from Manchester, England to London in 1990. She stated that the idea of "this scrawny, black-haired, bespectacled boy who didn't know he was a wizard became more and more real to me". [1]. Harry was eventually made into an orphan when Rowling's mother passed away.
JK Rowling called Wart from The Sword in the Stone novel by TH White as Harry's "spiritual ancestor." [2] She had also given him glasses as a clue to his vulnerability. [3]
In the first draft of The Philosopher's Stone, after his parents' deaths at the hands of Voldemort, Rowling intended for Harry as a baby to be found by Mr. Granger, the father of Harry's future best friend, Hermione. Finally, she gave Harry her birthday date: July 31st but instead of being based on a real-life person, he came out a part of Rowling. Since the beginning of the series, Harry and Ginny were always meant to end up together, which is why Hermione and Harry were never put together in the final novel.
In the films, Harry is portrayed by Daniel Radcliffe in all eight films, making him one of the fourteen characters to appear in the film. Like in the book, Harry was meant to have green eyes. However, Radcliffe was allergic to the contact lenses. Instead, the filmmakers let Radcliffe have his natural eye color. Also, Daniel had dark brown hair as opposed to Harry's messy black hair from the film
Personality
Harry is a loyal and brave person who, while by no means a saint nor flawless thus a human as much as everyone else, proved himself to be a good role model worth to look up to as much as a legendary hero he eventually become. A selfless individual, he would take great risks to help others and put his friends' needs and best interests first. He was forced to live under terrible living conditions, ever suffering from his uncle's verbal abuse, his cousins bullying and his aunt's neglect. At the end of Book 6, it turns out Harry had to live with his aunt because she was his mother's blood, which kept Lily's love sacrifice alive. As Tom Riddle's incapability of understanding true love, it was something Harry had advantage over his archenemy and slowed his kind and compassionate nature to Dobby, who saved Harry's life twice. In return, Harry ended up freeing Dobby from the Muggiest and showing no distaste or racism towards other beings.
Excluding his teachers and other authority figures in his life as well as his enemies, Ginny Weasley was not afraid of him when he was angry. When in a bad mood and argumentative, Harry's close friends usually replying to his angry tone in a calm and appeasing voice. Dumbledore could successfully calm him down whenever he got angry with him. Moreover, like many veteran warriors, Harry struggled to carry on despite all the horrors he faced throughout both Wizarding Wars.
Due to being raised by Muggles and being unaware of his powers until he was eleven years old, Harry didn’t grow to have some of witches’ and wizard’s attitudes towards other magical creatures. Unlike Ron, he didn’t overreact when he learned Hagrid was half-Giant or finding out that Lupin was a werewolf. He was also unaware of what the term “mud blood” was until Ron explained to Harry and Hermione that it is a derogatory term for a witch or wizard. In turn, Harry and Hermione often helped Ron understand their world, such as communicating through telephones. Ron also didn’t know what to order after Tottenham Court Road
Despite everything, Harry's good nature remains prevail over his inner demons thanks to his friends and allies' heartfelt support and unmistakable ability to love that kept him forward. The latter even kept him from fully giving in to the Dark Arts despite gaining insights of Voldemort's mind for being his unintentional seventh Horcrux. Even in the face of hardships and temptations to go to the very dark path many Dark Wizards step into, the Boy Who Lived remained pure in heart. He even attempted to persuade his nemesis to reflect on his errors to no avail during their would-be last duel. Unlike the power-hungry Voldemort, Harry was more content with a normal life and never sought power, but nonetheless willing to step up to lead.
Harry could also be merciful towards his enemies, such as how he showed mercy towards Peter Pettigrew that night, he learned Lupin was a werewolf. This forged a life debt between Peter and Harry, which Peter fulfilled when he was unable to hurt Harry when he was trying to escape from Malfoy manor.
Appearance
Powers and Abilities
Powers
- Love Empowerment: One of the strongest magic known to Wizard kind, this was Harry's strongest form of magic; born from a powerful true love union between James Potter and Lily Evans. Despite having a loveless relationship with his family, Harry loved everyone he was close to, whether it was romantic or platonic. He first experienced real romantic love for Ginny Weasley (his crush on Cho not counting) when he was devastated upon seeing her lying unconscious, near death in the Chamber of Secrets. During the Battle of Hogwarts, Harry sacrificed himself to Voldemort to save his allies. As a result, the love protection he placed on them allowed the resistance to quickly shake off any spells thrown at them by Voldemort. Additionally, he conjured a corporeal Patronus strong enough to repel hundreds of Dementors, which ultimately exorcized Voldemort out of his body.
- Magic: Harry was seen and had proven himself to be an extremely powerful and talented wizard. His power was evident from the start: he demonstrated immediate command of a broomstick, was able to conjure a corporeal Patronus at an exceptionally young age (a mark of superior magical ability), and even survived numerous encounters with Lord Voldemort. He was top of his class at Defense Against the Dark Arts, even instructing older students in defensive and offensive magic. He mastered a wand made of hawthorn, which one should only ever consider placing in the hands of a witch or wizard of proven talent. Harry was also a very gifted flyer and Quidditch player, the youngest Seeker in a century.
- Defense against the Dark Arts: Had been considered well-versed in defense against Dark magic.
- Charms: Casted several charms such as: Salvio Hexia, Protego Totalum, Repello Muggletum, Muffliato, Cave Inimicum, Disillusionment Charms, Wand-Lighting Charm, Levitation Charm, Colour Change Charm, Banishing Charm, Refilling Charm, Freezing Spell, Locking Spell, Unlocking Charm, Engorgement Charm, Shrinking Charm, Severing Charm, Mending Charm, Cheering Charm, Impervius Charm, and various others. Tickling Charm, Obscuro, and Brachiabindo
- Flying: Harry discovered his aptitude for flying when he took immediate command of his broom. His extraordinary flying skills, also aided him when pursuing the Winged Keys enchanted by Professor Flitwick in the Philosopher's Stone Chambers, and successfully irritating a dragon into chasing him so he could outrace her to the egg. According to Sirius Black, Harry's Quidditch and flying skills could be rivaled to that of James Potter.
- Dueling
- Dark Arts
- Transfiguration: Harry can change the appearance of an object or living organism into another form.
- Horcrux Connection
- insight inside Voldemort's Mind: When a piece of Voldemort lived inside of Harry, he could enter his mind and feel a Horcrux nearby and could also feel the pain when one was destroyed, featured in The Deathly Hallows: Part 2.
- Parseltongue: Harry could speak the snake language. He discovered during his second year at Hogwarts when he stopped a snake conjured by Professor Lockhart from attacking Justin. Despite his ability to talk to snakes, he has no control over the basilisk because she would only adhere to the Heir of Slytherin. He was able to open the Chamber of Secrets with this type of language. Though the ability dissipated after Voldemort’s soul within him was destroyed, Harry still remembered a few words when he was impersonating Voldemort.
- Potioncraft:
- Herbology:
Abilities
- Leadership: Harry has succeeded in being a leader for Dumbledore's Army and the Trio.
- Empathy
- Skilled Quidditch Player: His aptitude for becoming a Seeker when he immediate command of a broomstick and caught Neville's Remembrall after Draco threw it in the air in his first year. However, he lost the Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff quidditch game in 1993 to Cedric Diggory because of the presence of the Dementors hunting for Sirius Black. By his sixth year in Hogwarts, Harry became the Quidditch team captain.
Possessions
J.K. Rowling's novels
Harry Potter book series
The Philosopher's Stone
Harry lives with his abusive aunt and uncle, Vernon and Petunia Dursley, and their bullying son, Dudley. During summer break, Harry keeps getting mail from a mysterious sender but eventually learns Rubeus Hagrid is a wizard. At school, he is sorted into Gryffindor and becomes best friends with Ron and eventually Hermione after saving her from a troll. He also becomes the youngest seeker of a Quidditch game. He also developed a heated rivalry with Draco Malfoy and Severus Snape.
During the Christmas holidays, Harry receives an anonymous gift – his father's invisibility cloak. Aided by the cloak, he can explore the school freely. He, Ron, and Hermione set out to protect the Philosopher's Stone from Voldemort and successfully prevent him from returning after Harry defeats Voldemort's pawn, Quirrell. However, both Harry and Dumbledore believe that he isn't truly gone for good. During the school's end-of-year feast, Gryffindor is awarded the House Cup thanks to the many points Harry and his friends obtained from their adventure.
The Chamber of Secrets
In Harry's second year, students suspect that Harry is behind the attacks on Muggle-born students, who are being Petrified in the Hogwarts castle, causing him to be Alienated from his colleagues. He is also revealed to be able to talk to snakes, a trait shared with Slytherin and Voldemort. However, people stop suspecting Harry when Hermione is one of the victims.
Harry and Ron later discover that the attacker is Slytherin's basilisk after being tipped off by a paper Harry and Ron find in Hermione's hand. After Ron's sister Ginny disappears, Harry and Ron force Gilderoy Lockhart to come with them but when he tries to erase the boys' memory with Ron's wand, the spell backfires on Lockhart instead. He enters the Chamber of Secrets to rescue her, summons Fawkes the Phoenix, and calls the Sword of Gryffindor. He battles Tom Riddle, a version of Voldemort who lives in a diary that has possessed Ginny. In the end, Dumbledore reveals to Harry that he is a true Gryffindor because only that person can pull the sword from the Sorting hat. Afterward, Harry and Ron reunited with Hermione who has been cured of her petrification as well as the other victims.
The Prisoner of Azkaban
Next year, Harry gets angry at his aunt Marge and inflates her after she insults his parents so he runs away. When he returns to the Wizarding World and learns Sirius Black broke out of Azkaban looking for him, Harry meets Remus Lupin after having his worst memories upon meeting a Dementor. However, Lupin helps him create a powerful charm. Harry also learns that Black is his godfather and may have betrayed his parents. He also spends most of his third year angry at Hermione for getting his firebolt confiscated but later makes up with her after a stern talk to Hagrid. When Ron is taken to the Shrieking Shack by a wild dog, Harry and Hermione discover that the dog is Sirius in his Animagus form.
The trio also learns the truth; Pettigrew is Ron's rat, Scabbers, is a servant of Voldemort's, and he framed Sirius for his "murder" and twelve Muggles. However, Lupin turns into a Werewolf and Peter escapes. Hermione, Harry, and Sirius are attacked by Dementors but saved by an unknown figure. After waking up in the school infirmary, Harry and Hermione discover that Sirius is imprisoned in Hogwarts, facing the Dementor's Kiss. Following Dumbledore's advice, Harry and Hermione use a Time-Turner to go back in time just before Buckbeak's execution. Harry also created a corporeal patronus in the form of a stag which also proves that he was the one who saved himself, Hermione, and Sirius. Sirius sends a letter to Harry, explaining that he sent the Firebolt to him as a gift, being that he lost his old one. Sirius also allows Ron to keep his pet Messenger owl, Pigwidgeon after losing his pet and has a signed permission slip for Harry to attend Hogsmeade with his friends.
The Goblet of Fire
The Order of the Phoenix
The Half-Blood Prince
The Deathly Hallows
The Cursed Child
Harry Potter film series
The Philosopher's Stone
The Chamber of Secrets
The Prisoner of Azkaban
The Goblet of Fire
The Order of the Phoenix
Harry is haunted by the last year, watching Cedric get killed by Voldemort in front of him. While watching a family of muggles, he is suddenly faced by Dudley and his Gang. As a storm comes nearer, Dudley and Harry run for home but are suddenly attacked by Dementors, leading Harry to be forced to cast a Patronus to save him and his cousin.
This results in Harry being expelled from school; however, Dumbledore can arrange a hearing for Harry to repeal the expulsion. He spends most of the summer at 12 Grimmauld Place and is saved from expulsion. He attempts to speak to Dumbledore after the trial but his professor walks by.
The Half-Blood Prince
Following the events of Sirius Black's death, Harry inherits all of Sirius' possessions including 12 Grimmauld Place and Kreacher, Sirius' house elf. He is visited by Dumbledore who accompanies Albus to Horace Slughorn to recruit him for his job at Hogwarts. Slughorn takes an immediate liking to Harry, as he knew Harry's mother Lily when she was a student of his (Slughorn's).
The Deathly Hallows
Part 1
A couple of weeks after Dumbledore's death, Harry is still grieving for his fallen mentor. He travels to the Burrow with Hagrid and six other Harry Imposters (Harry's friends) but finds Alastor Moody was killed in action and George lost his ear. He attempted to leave to finish what Dumbledore started, but Ron caught Harry and was able to convince him to return to the Burrow. During the wedding of Bill and Fleur, it is interrupted by Death Eaters, causing them to flee to 12 Grimmauld Place, and find Kreacher spying on them. Kreacher and Dobby returned with Mandungus Fletcher, where he told them he gave the locket to Dolores Umbridge. Under the influence of Polyjuice Potion, Harry knocks Dolores out with the stunning spell and steals Slytherin's Locket around Umbridge's neck. They go into the woods and on the run.
Overcome by the negative effects of the Horcrux, Ron abandons his friend and girlfriend. Harry and Hermione are now alone, feeling lost without Ron. They visit Godric's Hollow, where Harry visits his mother's and father's grave. There, they see who they believe to be Bathilda Bagshot, and think she has the sword of Gryffindor but is Nagini in disguise. The snake attacks them, but Harry and Hermione getaway to the Forest of Dean. However, Harry gets knocked out whilst his wand is destroyed in the skirmish.
While taking his watch, Harry is guided by Severus Snape's patronus to where he hid the real Gryffindor Sword. Harry dives in for the sword but is suddenly choked to unconsciousness by the locket he wore but Ron saves his friend and destroys the Locket as they return to Hermione, who is overcome with anger when Ron approaches her. They go to Xenophilius's home, learning the tale of the Three Brothers. Xenophilius attempts to hand them over but the trio escapes. However, they find themselves caught by Snatchers. To protect Harry, Hermione uses a spell that disguises him into a different person. They find themselves locked in the dungeons of Malfoy Manor with Luna, Mr Ollivander, and Griphook the Goblin and hear Hermione's screams from Bellatrix torturing her. During the battle at Malfoy Manor, Harry easily disarms Draco, earning leniency from the Elder Wand. Though they escape, Bellatrix Lestrange as Harry kills Dobby breaks down crying for the loss of another friend and proclaims to bury him without magic.
Part 2
After burying Dobby, Harry and his friends, Hermione and Ron go to Gringotts, the wizard bank, to break into Bellatrix Lestrange's vault and steal Hufflepuff's cup with Griphook helping them enter, but ultimately betrays them. However, the trio can free and ride a captive dragon and can escape but lose the sword in the process. The trio is aided by Aberforth Dumbledore and sneaks into Hogwarts. Voldemort learns of Harry's return and orders the young man to turn himself over or risk the lives of everyone at the school.
During the Battle of Hogwarts, Harry goes to Helena Ravenclaw for her mother's diadem and learns it is in the room of requirements. At the same time, he sends Ron and Hermione to the Chamber of Secrets with a Basilisk fang and destroys Hufflepuff's cup. He and his friends also save Draco Malfoy and the only companion who survived after they caused a fire in the Room of Requirement. Harry sees a mortally wounded Severus Snape after witnessing Nagini attacking him. Snape gives Harry a memory and tells him to pour the memory into Dumbledore's pensieve, where Harry learns Snape had loved his mother, Dumbledore was already dying, and that he (Harry) was incidentally turned into a Horcrux and must be killed by Voldemort himself.
Before he goes off to die, Harry summons the spirits of his mother, father, godfather, and Remus Lupin and goes to face Voldemort alone, allowing him to kill him. During this exchange, Harry decides to stay in the world of the living when Dumbledore tells Harry to pity the Living, not the dead. Returning to the world of the living. Harry reveals to Narcissa Malfoy, Draco's mother, that her son still lives. Harry pretends to be dead but later goes off to face Voldemort in a two-way duel, which ends with Harry's success after Nagini is killed by Neville Longbottom. With the elder wand, Harry fixes his wand, but snaps the Elder Wand in half and throws it far away.
Epilogue
19 years later Harry is married to Ginny with three children, James, Albus, and Lily. After giving words of encouragement to Albus about his fear of being sorted into Gryffindor, Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione watch as their children depart for Hogwarts.
Relationships
Gallery
Trivia
- Harry has blue eyes in the movie because the green contacts for Daniel Radcliffe irritated his eyes.
